t for England to proceed in war. He also realizes that he cannot attack without God’s backing of their army. Salisbury announces this focus and proclaims on his way to battle, “God’s arm strike with us!” (Henry V IV.iii.6).The themes of these three plays were most likely immediately approved of by the royal court upon viewing. Any person desiring to climb the social hierarchy must first stop and think about whether or not he will be violating a boundary that has been socially constructed for him. Society during Shakespeare’s time was not tolerant of people attempting to scale the social castle walls through illegitimate means. King Henry was a different case than Malvolio or Macbeth, both of whom broke the rules. Henry complied with the rules, seeking wise counsel and not proceeding without God’s approval. If Henry could not “with right and conscience take [his] claim” (Henry V I.ii.98), he wouldn’t have gone to war. He was not going to risk lives for a quest that was not within his royal limits. Malvolio didn’t bother to care about going out of his socially constructed box and neither did Macbeth.This is Shakespeare’s point. Society has created a hierarchy for a reason, and it is within no person’s rights to try to break out of his mold, except for the King, who is the figurehead of England. Shakespeare doesn’t let Macbeth or Malvolio off the hook as Malvolio is completely humiliated and overwhelmed with and humorously vows to revenge and Macbeth is ultimately killed, defamed, and stripped of his crown after death. Breaking the social hierarchy is placed in a bad light and discouraged for anyone as unpleasant things may happen in consequence....
